Mayor urges tougher bullying sentencing

Warrnambool Mayor Michael Neoh says making bullying a criminal offence would encourage the community to take more action to stop it.

The Victorian Government has asked the Victorian Law Reform Commission to consider creating a new criminal offence of bullying.

Warrnambool police expect to charge two Brauer College students with assault after an attack left a year nine student in intensive care.

Councillor Neoh says the courts must be prepared to adequately enforce the law.

"We see many acts that are unlawful, that when they get to the court people get a slap on the wrist, so there needs to be some escalating punishment for people that do participate in bullying," he said.

"I think legislation will help but it will come back to the courts and how serious the courts are on actually handing out punishments for acts of bullying."